Building a pond can add appeal to a country house. If it is part of the drainage system, then, in addition to decorative, it will bring practical benefits on the territory. But before you build, you need to carefully consider the stages of construction. It is required to take into account the size and depth of the structure, as well as the features of the site on which the drainage pond will be located.
What materials are needed
Before starting work, be sure to decide on the following details. So, for any site, and even more so, in one part of which the earth remains wet longer than in other places, soil research and hydrogeology are ordered. You need to know exactly the properties and thickness of the layers, but the main thing is to have an idea of where the groundwater is, their level of occurrence and the possible volume.
This affects the depth of the future building and its durability. In the final report, geologists will give recommendations on what structures are possible on the site, what should be the foundation pit for the pond, and what may be its maximum depth.Also note that for sale there are also artificial ponds. In shape, they look like a stepped pool. It will be enough to decorate the site. And in order to find out if it is enough for a drainage pond, you need to calculate the volume of the drain.
The pond into which water flows from the site during a rainfall (accumulator) serves as an open type water collector. It must be located at the lowest point of the territory so that water flows into it naturally. Water will get there using special channels or drainpipes. If there is already a drainage system on the site, you will need information about the exact location of the pipes so as not to accidentally damage them during construction work.
Important! Be sure to remove all sharp stones from the pit in order to avoid mechanical damage to the film material that the walls will be covered with.
At the same time, think over the system for connecting the pump and filter in the pond. Now decide on the shape, material of the walls, the height of the sides, the plants that will be planted in it. Depth up to 2 m is suitable for some plants, and not more than 50 cm for some.
Then prepare the tools:
- a shovel;
- building cord;
- roulette wheel;
- level;
- stones or bricks;
- pump and filter for the pond;
- waterproofing materials;
- decorative elements and plants.
Reservoir formation
After you have decided on the site where the pond will be located, lay out the shape of the structure using a construction cord and pegs. Try to avoid geometrically complex shapes, as they are not only harder to build, but harder to maintain and clean. The most common form is an oval pond with water-loving plants planted on the shore.
Did you know? The Egyptians were the first people to officially register the creation of drainage systems. They date back to 2500 BC. e.
Then proceed to the marking in the same way of drainage channels, through which water will go down into the drive. Remove the top 30 cm of soil in the marked ditches. The resulting soil can be used on the beds. This is the most fertile layer, and it can be found rational use.
Now it's time to move on to the construction of the pond itself. The depth of the structure depends on information about the level of occurrence of groundwater. The volume should depend on the size of the yard. For example, 2.5 cm (1 inch) of rainfall that falls on 54 square meters is equal to an area of 150 × 120 × 90 cm (length × width × depth). But also keep in mind that the soil also absorbs some rainwater before it enters the drainage ditches.
The foundation pit itself can be made from several levels or limited to one. So, a depth of up to 40 cm is considered sufficient for a pond with a drainage function. If you want to get fish, you need a depth of 1 m and above. Such a deep-water part should be at least 30% of the total drive volume. Using a level, go around the pond, measuring, and add or remove soil to get the same bottom level in all places.
Fill the channels with drainage - gravel or stones to prevent the soil from collapsing inward or flushing into the pond during heavy rain. This method of filling channels is convenient. A layer of gravel passes water well and is easy to clean.Important! After the foundation pit is dug, it will be the right decision to let it stand for about 2–3 weeks. This is necessary so that the disturbed soil is compacted.
Waterproofing
The bottom of the pit should be isolated from soil water and the site as a whole. This can be done in several ways - by concreting and coating with butyl rubber film. The material is a synthetic rubber designed for artificial ponds. It is laid on the bottom of the pit and fixed. The useful life of the film is 50 years.
Work execution technology:
- The butyl rubber film is laid on clay. Peat or chernozem are unsuitable for this, as they are too porous and are affected by groundwater. You can cover the bottom with bentonite clay, creating a layer between the main soil and the film coating.
- Expand the roll and lay the film, covering the entire space. Try to eliminate wrinkles and wrinkles.
- Excess material can be cut off, allowing at least 50 cm overlapping. Stones or boulders are laid on top of the film for fixation. The gaps between them can be filled with smaller stones.
Do not start finishing the edges of the pond until it is full. This is due to the fact that when filled with water, the film will shrink to coincide with the bottom configuration and the sides of the reservoir. Some sagging around the edges allows the film to take the desired shape without stretching.
Did you know? The Minoans built the most “advanced” drainage system in 1700 BC. The famous palace on the island of Crete is equipped with 4 different systems that drained water into giant collectors. Of these, moisture was spent on garden irrigation.
Parts of the material at the edges of the pond can be masked by potted aquatic plants. Swamp irises, cattail, astilbe are suitable for this. Another way to waterproof walls is to apply liquid rubber to them. This material is a mastic made from bitumen and polymers. It is applied by spraying. It is more resistant to temperature extremes, withstands frosts down to -50 ° C and is quite durable.
Interior decoration
Given that this is a storm pond, it is advisable to clean it periodically, so a water pump is installed in it. Any model with the desired productivity of 350-5500 l / h is suitable.Buying a filter for water purification is also advisable in installation work. It is needed to eliminate unpleasant odors, fungal formations and mold. Mechanical filters are designed to purify water from large debris, while biological filters reduce the concentration of pathogenic bacteria, mold and fungi.
You can also decorate the pond by placing statues on the shore or lighting fixtures. Figurines of fabulous creatures are made of materials resistant to weather conditions. They are available in a wide range at a variety of garden decor stores.
Islands
A floating islet is one of the fashion trends. The ancient civilizations of America thus grew even gardens. The design is based on the reeds, branches, moss, on which aquatic plants were planted. The roots braided around such a design, and the flowers felt great.
To create such a structure, any porous base capable of floating is suitable. For example, foam packaging from household appliances. On its surface, fix the reeds, branches and add peat or humus. Plant the plants on this substrate, and the floating island is ready.
Spillways
The water level in the drainage pond changes over time, especially if it has rained heavily. In cases where there is a hole nearby for draining into storm sewers, it is necessary to organize the drainage of water into it or into a natural body of water, located nearby. But more often, water from such a pond is used for watering vegetable beds and garden trees. Organize any of the spillway systems using a pipe system.
Did you know? You will probably be surprised, but Internet companies use urban drainage systems to lay fiber optic cables. This costs them much cheaper than laying a new pipeline.
The parameters of the pipes are selected based on the volume of water that they have to pump. And no matter what is planned - the organization of a system for watering gardens and gardens or the outflow of excess water into a natural reservoir, this should be part of the work being carried out simultaneously with the construction of the pond.
Creating an artificial reservoir requires effort. But to calculate and assemble the drainage system on your own is quite realistic. It is important to remember that work does not end there. In the future, care for the pond and drainage ditches will be required. Excess or dead vegetation must be removed, the surface periodically cleaned from foliage and pathogenic microorganisms. Then the system will function smoothly and efficiently.